Piston-rod packing.



No. 770,926. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

' H. P. RHODES.

PISTON ROD PACKING.

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Hull!! .lllllll No. 770,926. PA'UNIED SEPT. 27, 1904.

' H. P. RHODES.

-PISTON Ron PACKING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1904.

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Ham/afan P Rhodes.

`UNTTED STATES Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT OEErcE.

PlSTON-ROD PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 770,926, datedSeptember 27, 1,904.

Application led April Z9, 1904. Serial No. 205,591. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HAMPTON P. RHODES, residing at Shreveport, in theparish of Caddo and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and ImprovedPiston-Rod Packing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of rod-packingimprovements in which metallic packing members are mounted within thestuiiing-box arranged to be snugly held up against the rod to providefor tightly packing the same.

In its generic nature my invention embodies a series of ring-segmentsformed of metal that are iiexibly connected in such manner whereby theseveral segments in each ring will be held in 'such cooperative relationas to provide a substantial continuous circular bearing or packingsurface and in such manner that the several segments in a section act asa solid metal ring, possessing, however, such' pliability as is usuallyfound in soft-material bearing-rings, whereby to open and close aroundrods of slightly-irregular diameters, and thereby automatically expandor contract with respect to the rods as the varying thicknesses orirregular peripheral surfaces thereof may make necessary to provide fora proper packing.

In its more complete make-up my invention embodies a stuiiing-box and anannular cushion held within the bore of the stufHng-box, which may beformed of a single member or in sections joined to produce a circularmember, said cushion having a plurality of horizontal iianges eachadapted to fit between a pair of superposed metallic ring-sections tohold the said metallic ring-sections from contacting with each other andfrom engaging the side of the stuffing-box, said annular cushion beingalso provided to form a yielding surface to take up the radial expansionof the rings to provide the required elasticity for holding the saidmetal bearing-rings against the rod.

Furthermore, my invention, in addition to the annular cushion and thesegmental rings before referred to, includes a supplemental cushioningmeans of a substance harder than the main cushioning member arranged toengage the peripheral edges of the several metallic packing members insuch manner as to cause them to iit square against the pistonrod and toalso close the joints between the several parts to elfectually preventescape of steam or any other iiuid--such as oil-ammonia, water, orgas-through the stufling-box.

In its more subordinate features my invention consists in certaindetails of construction and novel combination of parts that are socooperatively arranged that they can be economically and easilymanufactured, which will serve for the purpose intended, and which canbe readily adjusted for use, all of which will be hereinafter fullydescribed, specifically pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is avertical section of the stuffing-box with my improved packing appliedfor use. Fig'. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the gland or cap memberremoved. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section thereof, taken practically onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. t is a similar view taken on the line 4 4of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one series of metalpacking-segments that constitute a complete packing. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of one of the segments of said ring. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of one set of cushion rings or holders with theircoacting metallic ring-segments and illustrating a preferredconstruction of the said cushionring. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of amoditied form of cushion or holder, said holder being shown as composedof semicircular solid members, the said members, together with the metalrings supported thereby, being shown separated. Fig. 9 is a detailperspective view of one of the cushion or holder members shown in Fig.8. Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the supplemental cushionringshereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, l designates the stuflingboX, which is of the usualconstruction, 2 the gland thereof that enters the box at one end, thetop in the present illustration, and which is ad justably pressed downagainst the internally-held packing device presently explained by theadjusting-bolts 15 15, and the bottom of the box l has a centralaperture la for the IOO rod 3, which also plays in the central bearing2a in the gland, as usual.

My improved packing device comprises a holder A of special design,formed of a cushioning or elastic material, such as hard rubber or softrubber mixed with asbestos or other suitable material capable of' beingcompressed into a solid body having a stiff elastic or cushioning actionunder pressure.

Each holder A carries anumber of' arbitrarily-arranged metallic packingmembers B, which are-connected with the holderA in such manner that thesaid holder, together with the packing members supported therein, can bereadily fitted as a whole into or withdrawn from the stuffing-box. rI`heholderAin the preferred construction is made of sections, preferably twosemicircular sections, as shown in Fig. 8, the ends a a of' which areadapted to tightly abut to form square shoulders, and the said holder Ahas adiameter to snugly fit with its perpendicular or circumferentialedge c tightly against the inner wall of the stuffing-box. The holder Ain my arrangement of packing devices acts as a vibratory or radialexpansible member to permit the piston-rod 3 to run out of' truealinement, the same as if the rod were in aperfect condition. Eachsection of the holder A consists of' a thick vertical portion l and anupper and lower inwardly-ex-V tended horizontal annular flange c, theupper face of' the lower and the under face of theA upper flange beingconcaved, as atf, from the part d to the inner or rod-engaging end forreasons presently explained. Each holder A, as shown, is arranged tohold two sets of metallic paeking-rings B B; but I desire it understoodthe said holder A may be formed with a greater number of flanges a2 toreceive a greater number of' metallic rings B.

Each packing-ring B consists of a number' of segmental sections b, whichmay have three sections of like size or a greater number of sections 7)b of' different sizes, as shown in Fig. 5, but of such correlative sizethat when joined they make a complete ring. The-several metallicsections B are linked together at the ends by a fiexible connection C,which may be and preferably is a piece of soft-metal rod-wire, theopposite ends of which are molded in the abutment ends b5 of' thering-sections. The connection C in practice may, however, be of' anysoft material that will not scratch the piston-rod should it come intoconv tact therewith. The said rings B have such internal diameters thattheir bearing edges 3 constitute a circle much less than the internaldiameters of' the holders A, such correlative sizes of the' rings B andthe holders A being provided so that only the edges of the metal rings Bare heldv to engage with the rod 3. By joining the metal ring-sectionsin the manner stated the same will be held as a solid ring and havingsuch pliable adjustment as to act on the rod 3 substantially the same asdoes a soft packing-ring, and to provide for a perfect solid bearing forthe rod the several rings B in each holder are so positioned that thejoints of' one ring break with the joints of the adjacent ring, asshown.

The several ring members in each holder A are held out of engagementwith each other,

and for such purpose each section has a fiat surface that terminates ina convexed face and the convexed surface .fr of' the said ring is soarranged as to snugly seat within the concaved surface ofthe fiange t2of the holder, with which the respective metallic surfaces engage,

the con vexed concavo fitting of the ring-secby to form, as it were, anannular groove D between the opposing rings B and the adjacentcushionwall Vand square in crossnsection. Within the annular groove I)is tightly fitted -a ring E, square in cross-section, of' a pliablesubstance, much harder, however, than the cushion B and the said ring,which may consist ofl semicircular sections or be ofl a greater numberof segments, if' desired. rllhe rings E, together with the concavedconvexed con tacting surface between the rings and the holder-fianges,serve to maintain the metal. rings B square against. the piston-rod 3and hold the said metal rings in position, as well as providing foradjusting the said rings from time to time.

By providing the peculiar arrangement of' metal rings B and supportingthem within the peculiarly-constructed cushion-body holders A theseveral metal rings are so held with respect to each other and to theholders A as to provide fiuid-tight connections that prevent any leakagewhatever, and thereby reduce the danger of decaying the cushion to theminimum.

While I have shown but two holders A, with their coacting metalpacking-rings, it is mani' fest a `greater number of' said holders maybe provided. The arrangement of the holder and the rings admits ofeasily fitting the sev'- eral parts within the stufling-box or forremoving them and also for conveniently adjusting the several ringswithin their respective holders.

After the holders with their rings have been inserted within thestuffing-box the several holders may be tightly clamped into position byforcing down the gland in the manner clearly explained in Fig. l.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

l. A rod-packing comprising an annular IOO holder formed of an elasticmaterial and adapted to snugly fit within the stuffing-box, said holderhaving a plurality of inwardly-projecting annular flanges at each sideand a central flange disposed midway said side flanges, metallicpacking-rings detachably supported between the said side and centralflanges of the holderwith their inner or bearing surfaces projectedbeyond the inner edge of the holder substantially as shown and for thepurposes described. l

2. A rod-packingwhich comprises an annular holder formed of an elasticmaterial, said holder having side andcentral annular flanges, a seriesof metallic bearing-rings detachably supported on the holder insuperposed positions and between said flanges, the internal diameters ofthe said rings being less than the internal diameter of theholder-flanges, said rings being so connected with the holder as to bemoved with the holder from within the stufling-box.

3. A rod-packing of the character described, comprising a holder formedof an elastic body provided with inwardly-extended horizontal flanges, aplurality of metallic rings havinga superposed relation detachablysupported by the holder between the horizontal flanges thereof, each ofsaid rings consisting of segmental members flexibly joined at the endsand provided with a right-angled groove on the peripheral edge thereof,and a supplemental elastic ring adapted to fit within the saidright-angled groove of the metallic rings and to bear against theadjacent wall of the elastic holder, all being arranged substantially asshown and for the purposes described.

4. In a rod-packing of the character described, a holder formed of anannular-shaped elastic body adapted to snugly lit within a stuffing-box,and a series of metallic rings detachably supported upon the saidholder, said metallic rings being projected beyond the inner edge ofthe'holder, the said metallic rings consisting of segmental sections,said segmental sections having pins at one end and bores at the otherends, said pins and bores cooperating with each other to serve to holdthe sections loosely together substantially as shown and for thepurposes specified.

5. The hereinbeforedescribed improved rod-packing which consists of aholder formed of an annular-shaped elastic body composed of segmentalsections, each of said sections having an upper and a lowerinwardly-projected flange, the inner faces of said flange beingconcaved, a supplemental elastic ring formed of sections located on theinner face of the holder at a point midway the horizontal flanges, atthe opposite ends thereof', and a pair of metal rings, said rings havingconveXed surfaces to engage the concaved surfaces of the holder-flangesand provided with right-angled grooves in their peripheral edges, thesaid rings being disposed with their right-angled grooves opposing eachother whereby to form an annular groove square in cross-section adaptedto receive the supplemental elastic ring, the said metal rings beingformed of segmental sections, the abuting ends of which are flexiblyjoined, the joints of thel several segments of one ring being arrangedintermediate of the joints in the adjacent ring, all being arrangedsubstantially as shown and for the purposes described.

HAMPTON P. RHODES.

Witnesses:

J. H. LEVY, S. O. WILLIAMS.

